I'm not surprised that any of these fringe identities would be lucrative for a scam artist, but where is the line on identity if you can take it off and put on

I'm not surprised that any of these fringe identities would be lucrative for a scam artist, but where is the line on identity if you can take it off and put on something else with such apartment ease? If nothing else I really feel for his father (mentioned in the article), who despite everything seems to have deeply cared for his son.